BUSINESS owners and community groups are in fierce competition to become the new owner of Hastings Pier after it went into administration.

Competitors including community group Friends of Hastings Pier (FOHP) are in a desperate appeal to raise £1 million for the ownership bid.

It is rumoured the owner of Brighton Palace Pier, Luke Johnson, is interested in submitting a bid along with the owner of Eastbourne Pier, Sheikh Abid Gulzar.

He said: “The interest in putting in a bid for Hastings Pier is there. Ultimately, we are looking at different ways to support the pier.

Hastings Pier Charity, which managed the town’s prime attraction, went into administration in November 2017 as it failed to secure more funding.

Jim Breeds, spokesman for FOHP, said: “We have put in a bid as we want to return the pier back to community ownership. We want to own the freehold structure of the pier so it doesn’t get neglected.

“We want to have a say on how the pier is run, we are concerned that private companies might build too many arcade machines and it becomes too commercial. If we’re successful, we will find commercial operators who are able to run events and perhaps a large entertainment complex.

“Basically we want to maintain the character of the pier. However, we recognise there needs to be more attractions on it.”

FOHP needs to secure a pledge of £1 million to prove to the administrators of the pier, real estate company GVA, it has sufficient funds for the next two years.

The group said it was only given a few days to meet its goal and it also claimed GVA was in favour of corporate organisations.

Mr Breeds said: “They have only given us a few days to raise the required money.

“So far, we have only raised a few thousand.

“We’ll be speaking to GVA to request more time.”

Richard Baldwin, GVA director, said: “GVA is seeking a buyer for the freehold of Hastings Pier on behalf of the Hastings Pier Charity.

“As a part of this sales process, we are open to receiving all credible bids received within the timeframe from parties that have the funds required to acquire and manage this award-winning pier.

“As this is an ongoing sales process, we are unable to provide a further comment at this time but will continue to update the market and relevant stakeholders with progress on this matter.”

Mr Johnson was also approached for a comment.